David Almond, Polly Dunbar (Illus)
Walker Books

Paul lives in the basement of a city tower block, underground, and the sky seems very far away. One day, finding himself alone and bored, he climbs to the 29th floor of his building to see if he can touch the sky and test his theory that the moon is really….. a great big hole! With the help of a host of eccentric characters Paul has an amazing adventure and makes new friends along the way.

A story about imagination and wonder in which ladders can reach the moon and poodles can talk and fly; maybe magical adventures can begin in every day places…

This inventive story provides lots of food for thought about the wonder of the moon, the power of imagination, the futility of war, following your dreams, working together and the importance of home and family.

Talk about the story

What do children like about the story, which is their favourite part?

What is better than war? Not only sausages! How many things can you both think of? You could try to think of something for every letter of the alphabet.

Talk about the characters, for example Benjamin and why he changed from feeling sad to feeling happy.

Fortuna and her feelings and why she might have wanted to leave with Paul.

What you found out about Molly and Mabel.

Things to make and do

Draw pictures as if they are Mabel’s paintings of the characters in the story, use the template.

Make a wax resist painting of the moon with a candle or wax crayon moon painted over with an ink or watercolour wash. Click here to see a video demonstration of this, based on another book.

Write a news report with the headline ‘Boy proves moon is an enormous hole’. You could role play interviews with some of the characters as well. You might like to use our newspaper front page format.

Find out more

Read more books by David Almond. His other books for younger children include: